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LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel March 4 through April 29
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he dramatic art of a significant emerging literary genre will be explored in the exhibition, LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel, on view March 4 through April 29 in the Museum of Art. In this fascinating look at the development and current practices of sequential art, also known as the graphic novel, LitGraphic showcases 200 original paintings, drawings, storyboards, notebooks, comic books, photographs, and a documentary film, offering insight into the lives of the artists and the nature of their work. The impact on art discourse and the surrounding public community will be deepened and heightened by the powerful literary element of the exhibition.
tion of drawings by cartoonist William Steig, creator of the character Shrek, and an exhibition of Milton Caniff’s Steve Canyon comics. Published in book form, graphic novels employ words and pictures to address thought-provoking subjects that will serve as the thematic framework for the exhibition. Commentary by artists and curators focusing on recurring subjects, artistic and cultural influences, and the climate that impacts the creative process will be woven throughout the exhibition where contemporary art meets traditional America. A growing number of artists are choosing to express themselves through graphic novels, which have received increased recognition in the popular sector, in noted periodicals including The New York Times, The New Yorker, and in classrooms, libraries, and bookstores throughout the United States and abroad. A graphic novel employs the technique of cinematic narrative, developed by comic-book artists, telling the story through metaphors and visual images, particularly images of action. Graphic novels, with their antiheroes and visual appeal, have started to gain the interest and consideration of the art and literary establishment. Focused on subjects as diverse as the nature of relationships, the perils of war, and the meaning of life, graphic novels comprise the fastest-growing sections of many bookstores.
Featured artists and writers include pioneers Lynd Ward (Gods’ Man) and Will Eisner (The Spirit) as well as contemporaries including Sue Coe and Marc Hempel, whose illustrations for Neil Gaiman’s groundbreaking Sandman are on view also.
LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel is organized and toured by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Mary E. Murray, MWPAI Curator of Modern and Peter Kuper, Untitled #43. Illustration for The System. Airbrush, watercolor, colored Contemporary Art, said pencil, and collage on paper. Collection of the artist. ©1996 Peter Kuper. All rights Sponsored by comics have always been an reserved. important influence on modern and contemporary artists, from Lyonel Feininger to Willem DeKooning and Roy Lichtenstein “The art of these publications is Admission to LitGraphic more than light entertainment, it is serious commentary on contemMWPAI Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free porary culture, and we are excited to present this important compoGeneral Admission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7 nent of visual culture to our patrons,” she added. Murray noted that Students ages 7-18; College Students (with Valid ID) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4 more than 60 years ago, the Museum of Art showcased an exhibiChildren 6 and Under . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Free Group Tours (20 or More) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Per Person; $6
Members’ Exhibition Opening and Reception Saturday, March 3 5 to 7 p.m. Museum of Art
Marc Hempel, The Sandman. Watercolor and airbrush on paper. Collection of the artist. ©1993 DC Comics. The Sandman is a trademark of DC Comics.